Traders at Gikomba Market are counting losses after a fire broke out in the ‘Kwa Mbao’ section near the fire station at around 3 a.m. The inferno spread rapidly, affecting the entire area and extending to part of the bus station.
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, but traders suspect an electrical fault. This latest incident has added to their frustration, as it comes exactly a month after another fire destroyed businesses in the same section of the market on March 1.
Frequent fires have plagued Gikomba Market for years, leaving traders struggling to rebuild their businesses time and again. Many believe there is more to these incidents than just accidents, with some traders suspecting deliberate arson.
In 2021, over 900 traders took legal action against the Nairobi County Government, demanding Ksh20 billion in compensation for losses suffered due to repeated fires. They argued that the authorities had failed to implement measures to prevent such disasters.
